Should HOME internet ACCESS be provided FREE? or like quasi-public utilities like water, gas & electric is? Is internet access a luxury or necessity?

Question

As of February 7, 2024, due to a lack of additional funding from Congress, the Affordable Connectivity Program stopped accepting applications. Consumers enrolled in the ACP will continue to receive their benefit until the program ends.

Is it a luxury or necessity?

Miristheiss · Accepted Answer

Where are people coming up with this FREE lie?

NOTHING is free. No one goes out and works to make products and sell them, deliver them make them, provides service, spends their time just making services, making supplies, providing their time and care... just because.

It takes money. I go to work to make an income. Doctors have to live and eat. They don't just go to the hospital and clinic 50 hours a week for free for the hell of it. Internet providers don't dig holes and put all the cable underground and build this infrastructure out of charity, the men don't come repair it and maintain it as a hobby, Companies don't make phones, make toilet paper, paper plates, food items, HVAC companies don't spend hours per week fixing units as a charity.

It is not free. The "government" funding it isn't free. It take citizens working and paying taxes to fund these. Every new little thing people want the "government" to make free is less money going to roads, infrastructure, fire departments, schools, police, courts, defense and protection.

blueonblack22 · Accepted Answer

There is no such thing as “free”.  Somebody is paying for anything labeled “free” and it’s almost always the tax payers.  Now there is an argument to made when it comes to providing very cheap and affordable home internet access to the public. That’s different.  But subscribers should at least be paying enough to cover the costs of running the service.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Yes. And go back and do an update and word it like this.: “ Should the government pay for Internet access, much like the government pays for public schools, roads and parks?”

Even though it’s quite obvious what you’re talking about, you have to take the word free out or it confuses slow people.

katiesmuff · Accepted Answer

It is a necessary household utility today and should be governed just like gas, electric, water & sewer is.
You use that word FREE like there is such a thing. NOTHING, BUT NOTHING is FREE! Somebody is paying for it.

GoodGuyBreakingBad · Answer

Yes, it should be free for the privacy of customers homes.

WindAtMyBack · Answer

Nobody has a right to luxuries like the Internet.

Even if you argue that people have a right to the Internet, that doesn't mean it should be free. Just like a right to freedom of the press does not mean you will be provided with a free printing press.

Anonymous · Answer

No, but it should be made more affordable. One of the easiest ways to make home internet more affordable is through eliminating cable/internet monopolies that can charge what ever they want because customers have no choice but to either pay their high prices or do without internet, which is pretty difficult these days.

jshm2 · Answer

If you have a mobile, then you do have Internet in general. Usually you are taking faster Internet for gaming or porn. Neither of which are a nessesity.

purplepoppy · Answer

A lot of villages here have free Internet access. Wouldn't use it to log on to your bank but it's good for general browsing.

Avicenna · Answer

None of the other three utilities you mentioned are free. Subsidize Internet access only for those who truly can’t afford it.

pascal_climbs · Answer

Nothing is free. Or someone else pays for it, or it is hidden in the taxes you pay.

Juxtapose · Answer

People are self-interested with a capacity for self-reliance. Stop infantilizing them and treating our government like the Soviet Union. The government is not supposed to be your daddy.

exitseven · Answer

If it is free who will pay to maintain the infrastructure, do upgrades and manage the system. ?

bobby_bush_eater · Answer

Internet is a luxury in my mind. Idek what it costs to actually setup infrastructure wise, I imagine it's not easy.

Likes2drive · Answer

It seems to be necessary these days the way everything is done online now, but you still have to pay for it like a phone bill

Anonymous · Answer

Nothing is free. Taxpayer has to pay.

Should HOME internet ACCESS be provided FREE? or like quasi-public utilities like water, gas & electric is? Is internet access a luxury or necessity?

Most Helpful Opinions

What Girls & Guys Said

Yes, it should be free for the privacy of customers homes.

Should internet companies be forced to give customers free internet or a discount on our bills, everytime the internet goes down and we can't use it?

Should HOME internet ACCESS be provided FREE? or like quasi-public utilities like water, gas & electric is? Is internet access a luxury or necessity?

Most Helpful Opinions

What Girls & Guys Said

Yes, it should be free for the privacy of customers homes.

Should internet companies be forced to give customers free internet or a discount on our bills, everytime the internet goes down and we can't use it?

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